Category Archives: Charity

Charity, Food, Wine, zigsaw

Fire Relief Fundraiser! November 10th at Gravenstein Grill

Leave a comment

#WineCountryStrong

Another fabulous way to support your community! Join me and Ziggy the Wine Gal at this Superstar event to raise funds for the North Bay Fire Relief, an incredible effort to help our neighbors rise from the ashes.

Gravenstein Grill
8050 Bodega Avenue Sebastopl, CA 95472
6pm to close
$100 suggested donation

There will be an amazing selection of wines, many from Russian River Winegrowers and the Coffey Park areas, being poured and up for auction!  Cocktails and appetizers to enjoy while perusing the silent auction, then get ready for live bidding at 7pm.

Reserve your space at
(707)-634-6142 or brandon@gravensteingrill.com 

Charity, Event, Wine

Harvest Dinner & Fire Relief Fundraiser on November 1st!

Leave a comment

Join me  along with Radio-Coteau wines for the Gravenstein Grill Harvest Dinner by Executive Chef Bob Simontacchi, with guest Winegrower Eric Sussman!   This is an excellent opportunity to savor a delicious feast, paired with wine while also benefiting the Fire Relief Fund of Sonoma & Napa Counties.  This delicious menu includes:

Heirloom Tomato Soup with Brioche Grilled Cheese
Aged White Cheddar, Local Heirloom Tomatoes
“Eye Cyder” Unfiltered Gravenstein Cider from Sebastopol Grown Apples

Seared Dayboat Scallop Creamed Brussel Sprout Leaves, Tarragon, Hazelnut, & Lemons
2016 County Line Chardonnay, North Coast

Butternut Squash Gnocchi Foraged Mushrooms, Brown Butter, & Parmesan
2013 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir, Dierke Vineyard, Sonoma Coast

Tomato, Orange & Rosemary Braised Lamb Shank Cauliflower Puree, Spinach, Pine Nuts, & Golden Raisins
topped with Gremolata
2013 Radio-Coteau Syrah, Dusty Lane, Sonoma Coast Chocolate “Bomb”

Kahlua Chocolate Mousse, Coffee Genoise,
Espresso Creme Anglaise
2013 Radio-Coteau Lemorel “Estate” Sonoma Coast Zinfandel

The Harvest Dinner is $120/person, RSVP Required – call (707) 634-6142: 15% of which benefits the Fire Relief Fund of Sonoma & Napa Counties.

radiocotvines
DSC_7055
ggsign
radiocoteau
Charity, Varietal, Wine

Pinot on the River at Healdsburg Plaza, October 22nd

Leave a comment

Plan a great day to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County!  Pinot On The River is a fun filled weekend event , in the delightful Russian River Valley town of Healdsburg.  Visit with winemakers and fellow Pinot-lovers to focus on limited production West Coast Pinot Noirs.

The Sunday October 22nd Pinot Noir Grand Tasting, will have over 100 wineries plus guest Artisan Food Vendors on the downtown Healdsburg Plaza Square.  Get your tickets HERE!

Charity, news, Wine

Wildfire Devastation Too Close To Home

Leave a comment

From my heart, I want to thank all the great people from around the globe who sent notes asking if my family and home are okay during the horrific spread of wildfires in Northern California. While I’m happy to say we are doing fine, I am heartbroken over the  suffering of so many friends through the loss of their homes, wineries, businesses or even their job because of the wildfires that are still not under control in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Calaveras and Yuba counties.

The devastation of Willi’s Wine Bar.

On a more personal level, the Mark West-Fountaingrove area that I grew up in, north of Santa Rosa, is completely gone too. The loss and damage to a number of schools and hospitals will have a huge impact on the community as well. The destruction makes me think about the 1989 Earthquake, 9/11 and the terrible storms that have hit the southern states in recent years. Luckily, the amount of lives lost so far has been minimal. But the damage and scares from the fires will be very obvious for many years to come.

This morning we made donations at our local drop-off zone here in Petaluma, and will wait to hear other ways we can help. But rest assured I’ll always wear my heart on the sleeve when October 9th rolls around for the rest of my life. Stay safe and appreciate life my friends.  You can help too either by volunteering at a local shelter or donating to the Napa and Sonoma Fire Relief fundraiser!

Much love to all and stay safe! Chris

gunbun
felicia
ranch

Top to bottom: A photo taken by my friend Sarah Stierch of the horrific fire heading towards Scribe Winery and the adjacent Gundlach Bundsch property in Sonoma Valley; The ruins of my dear friend Felicia’s house near Glen Ellen; Smoke-filled view from my house in Southern Sonoma County.

Charity, Farm, Food, Wine

October 7th: A Biodynamic Farm-to-Table Feast!

Leave a comment

Experience this fundraiser at DeLoach Vineyards for Demeter USA and their critically important Biodynamic Farmer Education Initiative, including both silent and very live auction items: To feature incredible Biodynamic wines, products, and experiences. Live music by Sonoma County’s favorite band the Cahoots, playing their own blend of “Sonomacana” country blues and rockabilly. And of course featuring the award wines of DeLoach Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery, and Raymond Vineyards.  RSVP online!

The Demeter Biodynamic Education Initiative supports the education of farmers and others to expand the practice of Biodynamic agriculture, and the production of Biodynamic food and wine, across the country. Last year, Demeter increased Biodynamic acreage by more than 16% to 22,000 acres, advised more than 350 farmers and brands, and hosted 20 farmer workshops that provided Biodynamic training for 1,155 farmers. Your support of this work is vitally important for the quality of our farms, our food, and our planet. Thank you for joining with Boisset and Demeter in our vision to help heal the planet through agriculture.

Charity, Event, Wine

2017 Great Gatsby Gala Benefiting the HDSA

Leave a comment

Buena Vista Winery will be transformed into a Roaring Twenties destination on Saturday, July 1, 2017 when the winery hosts the Great Gatsby Gala to benefit the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA).

With a goal to raise $100,000 to support the HDSA mission, the event will honor Jean-Charles Boisset, Proprietor of Boisset Collection, which owns Buena Vista Winery, and Dr. Laurice Yang, Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University in the Neurology & Neurological Sciences department. Join us in your Gatsby-themed attire to enjoy live entertainment, a delicious dinner and wine pairing, Buena Vista’s classically retro Bubble Lounge and a fantastic silent auction.

To make donations and purchase tickets please go to: pacificsouthwestreg.hdsa.org/

Charity, Event, Wine

Pinot on the River: Healdsburg Plaza, Oct 23rd

Leave a comment

pinot-logo-png-224x300Join me next Sunday at Pinot on the River in the downtown Healdsburg Plaza Square. There will be over 100 wineries at the Pinot Noir Grand Tasting plus guest Artisan Food Vendors.  Enjoy the limited production West Coast Pinot Noirs, in the company of winemakers and other Pinot-loving consumers.  As always this event benefits The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County.

Buy your tickets, or if you are unable to attend
then purchase some Raffle Tickets for the chance to win
one of three fabulous wine prizes!
Instant Wine Cellar of Pinot Noir
6 Magnums of Pinot Noir
3 Magnums of Pinot Noir

bgccsc

Charity, Event, Wine

V2V Wine Safari! September 3-11

Leave a comment

Talk about turning Wine into Water!  This September, Vineyards to Villages will host the 2nd Annual V2V Wine Safari, giving people the opportunity to drink boutique Sonoma County wines while bringing clean water to children in Kenya.

The “safari” tours will have complimentary tastings at 11 wineries in northern Sonoma County from September 3-11. Intimate tastings of exceptional high-end wines, often hosted by the owners themselves, will allow for a truly unique wine country experience. Visit any or all of the wineries at your own pace any time throughout the week. Participating wineries donate 1/3 of the sales price of these wines to V2V throughout the event.

The particpating wineries include: Christopher Creek Winery, Deux Amis Winery, Fritz Underground Winery, Merriam Vineyards, Pedroncelli Winery, Portalupi Wine, Thumbprint Cellars, Trione Winery, Williamson Wines, the Windsor Tasting Lounge, and Viszlay Vineyards.

Tickets available HERE!  $50 each (a $130 value),
and all ticket sales go directly to V2V.

v2v2014
Children at Ranyienya Primary School with water from a borehole well dug in February 2014

Also, with the purchase of every ticket, you will be entered to win wine raffle prizes! If you visit every “animal” (winery) on the safari and show your complete safari pass on the Facebook page, you’ll get an additional 10 raffle tickets: Plus an extra raffle ticket with every purchase of V2V wine!

Charity, Food, Tasting, Travels, Wine

Vintage Comet Wine Tasting Train: Only in April!

Leave a comment

western-railway-museum-logoWe just visited the amazing Western Railway Museum, located along the Highway 12 corridor, for a family train ride and exploration of some historic rail cars.  Just wanted to share with you an opportunity to ride The Comet for wine tasting, appetizers and door prizes, on the next three Saturday’s in April 9, 16 & 23.

This fundraiser will benefit the museum, which is non-profit, and the Solano Midnight Sun Breast Cancer Foundation.

Secure your TICKETS, yesterday’s train apparently sold out!

If you cannot make this event, there are others to look for throughout the year.  Or you can just swing over for a weekend family adventure instead!

A stop along our train trip at the Western Railway Museum.
A stop along our train trip at the Western Railway Museum.
Charity, Event, Wine

#LakeCountyRising Charity Wine Auction – Sunday March 20th

Leave a comment

Sharing this Press Release information for those that want to continue the efforts of support for victims of last year’s devastating lakecorisingValley Fire in Lake County.   More information and tickets can be purchased at #LakeCountyRising.  Piggy back this onto the end of your Flavor! Napa Valley adventures!

Valley Fire Relief Charity Wine Auction
Sunday, March 20, 2016
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Culinary Institute of America – Greystone
St. Helena, California

Thanks for your support!